On a night when the world of darts was glued to Alexandra Palace, 18-year-old sensation Luke Littler once again stamped his authority on the sport, dispatching Ryan Searle 6-1 to reach his third consecutive World Darts Championship final. The defending champion, already a household name among darts fans, delivered a performance that was both clinical and electrifying, averaging 105, slamming in 10 180s, and hitting a high checkout of 110. The only thing missing? That elusive nine-darter, which Littler came agonizingly close to achieving in the sixth set.
Littler’s victory wasn’t just another win—it was history in the making. By making it to three straight World Darts Championship finals, he joins an elite group of legends: Dennis Priestly, Phil Taylor, and Gary Anderson. “I went 1-0 down and was not the happiest. I thought I didn’t play that well. Everyone knows I just want to go 1-0 up, get into that lead,” Littler admitted after the match. But as the sets ticked by, Littler found his groove and, with a ruthless 59% success rate on doubles, he left Searle with few chances to mount a comeback.
Yet, the story of this semi-final wasn’t just about Littler’s brilliance. Ryan Searle, at 38, was playing the best darts of his life, having reached his first-ever World Darts Championship semi-final. His journey to the last four was remarkable—not only for the quality of his play but for the adversity he’s overcome. Searle suffers from Autosomal Dominant Optic Atrophy (ADOA), a rare genetic condition that causes progressive and irreversible sight loss. Sometimes, he can’t even see where his darts land. “It was only in the last 18 months that I realised what the diagnosis was,” Searle shared earlier this week. “It’s been bad for as long as I can remember. There’s no cure for what I’ve got so I’m stuck with it. I wear contact lenses now to try and take a bit of the blurriness away from my vision. But sometimes on stage I’m asking the caller what I’ve scored and it puts me in a bit of a difficult position.”
Searle’s story is one of perseverance and inspiration. Not only has he battled through the ranks—beating world number five Jonny Clayton 5-2 in the quarter-finals—but he’s also become a beacon of hope for others with visual impairments. “If I can inspire people that maybe can’t see as well to pick up the game, then it means a lot to me,” Searle said. His efforts extend beyond the oche: he’s raised over £10,000 for the Cure ADOA Foundation and continues to ask fellow players to donate shirts for charity raffles. “My son doesn’t have it as bad as me, but my daughter has it really bad. When it gets to about six feet, she can see, but after that her vision gets really bad. So if I can raise a lot of awareness for that and try and find a cure for it, that means a lot to me.”
Despite his challenges, Searle’s run was nothing short of remarkable. He dropped only two sets en route to the semi-finals, and even in defeat, he managed to land a spectacular ‘Big Fish’ 170 checkout—one of the highlights of the match. Littler himself was quick to praise his opponent, saying, “Big shout out to Ryan. He’s done amazing this tournament. He can be proud.” Searle’s journey from window cleaner to the world stage, all while managing a debilitating condition, has captured the imagination of fans and players alike.
Interestingly, both semi-finalists have faced eye challenges. Littler, the prodigy known as ‘The Nuke,’ underwent surgery as a child to correct strabismus—a condition where the eyes do not align. Treated at Warrington Hospital, Littler’s early eye troubles are a lesser-known chapter in his meteoric rise. Now, with the eyes of the darting world firmly fixed on him, he’s set to chase another world title and a potential £1 million winner’s cheque.
The semi-final night at Alexandra Palace was packed with drama beyond the Littler-Searle showdown. In the other semi-final, Dutchman Gian van Veen stunned two-time champion Gary Anderson with a 6-3 victory, earning his place in the final and setting up a mouthwatering clash with Littler. Van Veen, just 23, has quickly become one of the sport’s hottest prospects, having swept past former champion Luke Humphries 5-1 in the quarters. The final, to be played on January 3, promises fireworks as two of darts’ brightest young stars go head-to-head for the sport’s biggest prize.
This year’s World Darts Championship has been a tournament of upsets, breakthroughs, and new stars. With a record 128 players vying for a share of the £5 million prize pot, the competition has seen established seeds tumble and fresh faces like Justin Hood emerge. Littler, who pocketed £500,000 for last year’s win, is now poised to potentially double that haul if he can clinch the title again. But even as the focus shifts to the final, the stories of grit and determination—embodied by Searle and Littler—linger in the minds of fans.
For Searle, the semi-final defeat is hardly the end of the road. His new high ranking of number eight in the world is a testament to his consistency and courage. More importantly, his openness about living with ADOA has sparked conversations and inspired many. The Devonian, known as ‘Heavy Metal’ for both his musical taste and his 32-gram darts, has shown that obstacles, no matter how daunting, can be faced head-on.
As the dust settles on semi-final night, all eyes turn to the final showdown between Luke Littler and Gian van Veen. With Littler chasing a third straight title and Van Veen aiming to cap a breakout year with the ultimate prize, the stage is set for a classic. Meanwhile, Ryan Searle’s journey reminds everyone that sometimes, the most powerful victories happen off the scoreboard.
With the curtain about to fall on the biggest World Darts Championship yet, anticipation is at fever pitch. Will Littler write another chapter in his already storied career, or will Van Veen seize his moment under the bright lights of Alexandra Palace? One thing’s certain: darts fans are in for a treat.
